This position is located in the Child Protection Section of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Juba. The incumbent will report directly to the head of the operations, training and capacity building unit within UNMISS Child Protection.

Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of the Child Protection Section and within the limits of delegated authority, the Child Protection Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

- Supports the mainstreaming child protection concerns into all aspects of the activities, strategies, policies, and training programs of the peacekeeping operation and assists in the overall implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions (SCRs) on children and armed conflict;- Works directly with other UN peace operation components, including UN police and military, Human Rights, Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR), Security Sector Reform (SSR), Rule of Law, to integrate a child-conscious approach in their work;- Researches, collects reliable, accurate and timely data on and, where necessary, conduct investigations into the six grave violations identified by the UN Security Council and other violations committed against children; Establishes or maintains a viable management and screening database of the information collected in the field;- Provides timely inputs to relevant periodic reports to DPKO or DPA (as relevant) and to the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (SRSG-CAAC), including reporting to the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict;- Ensures timely delivery of a variety of reports, briefing notes, talking points and any other communications to brief senior mission staff in compliance with the mission mandate;- Supports the mission in implementing the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) established pursuant to S/RES/1612 (2005) in coordination with the UN Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting;- Provides appropriate backstopping to Child Protection Unit’s efforts toward the signing and implementation of national action plans to address grave violations against children as called for in SCRs 1539, 1612, 1882 and 1998;- Provides training on child rights and child protection to military, police and civilian staff of the mission;- Liaises with national authorities, civil society, UN actors, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the host government, and relevant coordination mechanisms in ensuring adequate responses to violations committed against children;- Undertakes field visits and/or joint assessment missions as directed and ensures up-to-date information sharing on substantive matters related to the rights of the child;- Provides guidance to and may supervise new/more junior staff;- Performs other duties as required.

Competencies

•Professionalism: knowledge of institutional mandates, organizational structures and policies within the UN, guidelines and methodologies relating to child protection including the legal framework for the protection of children, relevant Security Council resolutions and mandates related to children and armed conflict, the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism, child-sensitive DDR, juvenile justice, legislative, rule of law reforms and gender; knowledge of database and ability to thoroughly analyse and evaluate the data and critical matters pertaining to a broad spectrum of socio-economic issues to assess their impact on children and to provide concrete strategy recommendations to redress situations; Strong analytical skills and excellent skills in drafting a broad range of documents including speeches and reports. Demonstrated original and creative thinking; independent judgment and discretion in advising on and handling of major policy, project and other sensitive information; Ability to seek new and improved methods of work, to share best practices and to incorporate lessons learned; Capacity to maintain effective working relationships with other UN, NGO, state and/or government stakeholders; Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

•Planning and Organizing: Develop clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identify priority activities and assignments; Adjust priorities as required; Allocate appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; Foresee risks and allow for contingencies when planning; Monitor and adjust plans and actions as necessary; Use time efficiently.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s or Doctorate) in [specific fields] or related fields is required. A first-level degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in the specified fields with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years progressively responsible experience in human rights, civil affairs, political affairs, international relations, international law, promotion and protection of the rights of the child, training, information management or a related area is required. Two years of work experience at the international level outside the applicant's country of origin is required. Experience working in a United Nations common system field operation (inclusive of peacekeeping, political missions and UN agencies, funds, and programmes) – or similar international organization or non-governmental organization – in a conflict or post-conflict setting is desirable. Managerial experience is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in both oral and written English is required.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise, which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

This job opening is advertised to fill a temporarily vacant position during the absence of the regular incumbent for a period of one year or longer. The regular incumbent is entitled to return to this position at the expiry of the temporary vacancy period. If the regular incumbent exercises the right to return, the appointment or temporary assignment or promotion of the candidate selected for this job opening will not be renewed or extended.

The selection process for this job opening will be conducted pursuant to ST/AI/2010/3 on the “Staff Selection System” and include the compliance review process by a review body described in staff rule 4.15. In case of selection, a staff member of the United Nations Secretariat who meets the definition of “internal candidate” in staff rule 4.10 will be placed on a temporary assignment if he or she holds the same grade as the job opening; and a temporary promotion if he or she holds a lower grade than the job opening. If the regular incumbent vacates the position during such temporary assignment or promotion, the selected staff member will be laterally assigned, promoted or transferred to the position without further selection process under ST/AI/2010/3.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.